Phal. schilleriana var. purpurea (4N)

The less common tetraploid form of this beautiful Phalaenopsis species is native to Luzon and several smaller islands of the Philippine archipelago, where it grows in lowland rainforests high in the trees at elevations of 0–450 meters. As a result, it thrives best in intermediate to warm conditions. The species was first described by H.G. Reichenbach, the foremost German taxonomist of the 19th century, who named it in honor of Consul Baron Schiller.

This tetraploid form is distinct from the standard diploid variety: it produces much larger flowers with heavier substance and broader leaves, though typically with fewer blooms per spike due to their increased size. Once mature plant can have a leaf span of up to 24" and have 24-32" tall flower spikes with more than 20 flowers. Unlike the diploid form, which is known for its sweet rose-like fragrance, the tetraploid can be generally less fragrant, though the scent can vary in strength with each plant, usually being stronger in the morning hours after the flowers have been open a few days. We have been line breeding these since the mid 1980's. They typically flower in late January through February. we made this cross in 2021.